Circuit closer for controlling electric lights



A. E. PUERNER. CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC LIGHTS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1919.

1,411,300. PatentedApr.4,1922.

UNITED STATES ALBERT, n. PUERNER, or roar ATKINSON, WISCONSIN.

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR CONTROLLING ELIECTRIt'J LIGHTS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 4:, 1922.

Application filed September 27, 1919. Serial No. 326,955.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. PUERNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Atkinson, in the county of Jefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit Closers for Controlling Electric Lights, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. V 1

This invention relates to means for controlling electric lights and has relation more particularly to means forcontrolling the electric lamps of automobile headlights, and it is an object of the'invention to provide novel and improved means whereby the lamps are arranged in multiple or in series in accordance with the speed of the engine, so that the possibility of the lamps burning out when the engine is running on low gear is substantially eliminated.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved means forcontrolling electric lights whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered, simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my inventionmay be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom panying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view with parts in elevation and parts in section, of means for controlling electric lights arranged in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, and,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in cross section of certain of'the parts illustrated in Figure 1.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings L denotes the lamps connected in series in a well known manner by the conductors a, one of said conductors being grounded and a second conductor being electrically connected with the post 1 comprised in the regulating device embodied in the present invention.

The regulating devicecomprises a casing orhousing C provided with a bracket B whereby said casing or housing 0 may be supported by thedash of an automobile body at a point in close proximity to the steering gear and preferably slightly therebelow.

gaged with the clutch shaft'of the transmis sion when the device is employed in connection with the well known Ford type of car.

The lugs 4 depend from the opposite end portions of a slide 7 arranged within the casing or housing 0' and slidably mounted upon the lower wall 2. Supported by the central portion of the slide. 7, but insulated therefrom, is a bracket 8 of conductive material, and having a portion 8 overlying the slide 7. The portion 8 is provided with a slot 9 through which extends a spring conduotor 11 arranged within the casing or housing C, and in electrical connection with the post 12.

The post 12 is disposed through the upper wall 14 of the casing or housing C, and insulated therefrom, and arranged at one side of the post 1, hcreinbefore referred to. The post 12 has engaged therewith a conductor 5 leading from a magneto driven in a well-known manner by the engine of the automobile. Interposed in the conductor 1) is a witch 15 of a conventional type.

Also mounted upon the slide 7, which is of metal or other conductive material, and in electrical connection therewith is a second ,bracket 16, having an upperportion substantially aligned with the portion 8 of the bracket 8, but spaced therefrom. Extending between said brackets 8 and 16 is an end portion of a resilient conductor plate 17 depending from the top wall 14 of the casing or housing C, and in electrical connection with the post 1 carried by said wall 14, but insulated therefrom.

Also disposed through the wall 14 and insulated therefrom is a post 18. Leading from the post 18 is a conductor 0 in electrical connection with a conductor a at a point between the lamps L. When the slide 7 is moved in one direction when the trans mission is in high gear, the bracket 8-is brought into electrical contact with the resilient or spring conductor 19 depending from the post 18, and whereby the lamps L a u d to burn in multiple as a circuit for one of the hunps grounded t i the so :ond hr: (hot 16., which is also :1 electrical Contact with the resilient conductor plate 3.7. This ground obt ied througl the lugs t, which ure of conductive "n? eriel and in electrical connection with the slid z and the rod hen the transmission is thrown into low, the movement or the sl results in the lamps L burning in series the bracket 8 is only in elecricnl eontac with the conductor plate 17. Aflixed to the rod 5 between. the in is a Collar 20, which normally contacts one of the lugs 4t and whereby the rod 5 is mused to impart desired nioi'ei'rient to the slide '7 when the clutch shell: is roe ed into low. Interposed between the collie. i: the second lug d is an expnnsihle 11'1". i herein disclosed as a coil. spring eneircl the rod 5, and which operates to permit rod 5 to impart the desii'ed movement the slide 7 when the clutch shaft is moved into high, and at the same "inie peri'nits 2111 independent movement of the rod that no obstruction or hindrance is otliered to the requisite ope 'zition of the clutch shaft.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a means for C(11- trolling electric lights constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly excl i adopted for use by i'ensou oi the convenience and ziiility with which it may be assembled and operated and it w ll also he obvious that my invention is susceptible chni re and iflOtl'lilCQQiOi'l without g from the pr nciples and. spirit and for this reason I do not wish he imderstoml as limiting myself to the 'TOl'fllilillOil oi the ot some enrol parts sand s1 eozicti when :tree oi the other, said sliding contact being engaged with one of the pistes when the bracket is free thereof ind in contact with the second plate. and a conductor in constant electrical connection with the bracket.

In testimony whereof 1 hereunto nth); my s i gnzitur '3.

ALBERT E. lEUERNEl-l said bracket engaging one 

